Las Cruces High's offensive output clicks on all cylinders

On the season, the Las Cruces Bulldawgs football team is averaging 504 yards and over 46 points per game.

In the last four contests, the Bulldawgs have beaten Gadsden 50-0 (a game called at halftime because of mercy rule); topped Mayfield 36-13; rolled Clovis 70-40; and trounced Eldorado 55-28. The past two weeks, LCHS has averaged 583 yards per game, while putting up 1,411 total yards as they drubbed the Wildcats and Eagles in state playoff games.

Friday, they'll play in Albuquerque at Wilson Stadium, taking on the Sandia Matadors for the State Football Championship at 7 p.m.

"We think we can score every time," head coach Jim Miller said after last week's victory. "That's the mentality these guys have."

The Bulldawgs offense has gotten stronger as the season's moved along. Last year's team was a run-first outfit, a predictable strategy that ultimately didn't lead to the state title (LCHS was knocked off at home in the semifinals by Rio Rancho).

Jonathan Joy, a senior, took over at quarterback going into 2012 and LCHS opened the playbook back up. The results have been astounding, with the team averaging 229 passing yards per game and 275 rushing yards per contest.

They have a 1,000-yard rusher (J.J. Granados, who's also added a whopping 33 touchdowns on the ground). Two more runners on the team display quality talent as well (Austin Salas has combined to run for 350 yards the past two games and has 729 on the season; Joy's also tallied 699 rushing yards of his own on the year).

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The passing game has plenty of weapons, headlined by wide receivers Michael Calzada (49 catches, 942 yards) and Michael Holguin (25 catches, 354 yards). Tight ends Kamryn Dixon (23 catches, 435 yards) and Sam Denmark are quality players that often line up on the field simultaneously.

And, of course, an offensive line that displays supreme size, strength and skill, anchors an overall unit that's displayed zero holes of late.

"We put in a vertical passing game and different runs. We're still good with our powers and with our counters (in the running game)," Miller said. "The beginning of the year, you put something new in and it takes a little while to adjust to it and to realize who you're blocking and what you're trying to do. You go 14 weeks in, you're bound to get better. You would hope. It's been that way for us."

The past three weeks the Bulldawgs have actually given up the contests' opening touchdown, only to never blink an eye and often roll to victory as the game unfolded from there.

"Nobody was nervous," Denmark said of the team's mood following Eldorado's kickoff-return touchdown to open last Saturday's semifinal. "We knew we'd go down and score and get right back in it .... We knew what we were capable of doing.

"The only time we've hurt ourselves is with our own mistakes. If we all execute we know nothing can stop us. The only thing that can stop us is ourselves."

Virtually every time they take the field, the Bulldawgs will break out a handful of innovative plays from their offensive repertoire. Whether it be a shovel pass to Dixon in motion, a pitch to Granados going left only to see the running back throw back across the field to the quarterback, or a Joy fake pitch to the outside and keeper-run up the middle, the Bulldawgs will keep the opposition on its toes.

When asked about the best offensive attacks he's had during his 16-year tenure as head coach of the Bulldawgs, Miller mentioned his 2008 team and then reflected back to the 2000 campaign. Then he spoke about this year.

"Statistically, if you look at it, we're averaging 50 points. That's the most we've averaged," he said. "This offense probably stacks up as one of the best, if not the best that we've had."

Teddy Feinberg can be reached at (575) 541-5455. Follow him on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg

If you go

Who: No. 2 Las Cruces High (10-1) at No. 4 Sandia (9-3)

What: Class 5A State Football Championship

Where: Wilson Stadium, Albuquerque

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Radio: KSNM-AM 570

Tickets: Tickets cost $8 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens.

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